Hirohiko Nakamura's message to doctors is clear: Back off.

The president of a just-launched trade group of nursing-care providers, Nakamura said he is afraid that doctors are trying to burden the new public nursing-care insurance system with the troubles of the medical insurance system. He is also concerned that their role in the screening process for care recipients might introduce favoritism.

Some services already planned for the nursing-care system should be properly categorized as medical services and covered by medical insurance, said Nakamura, who also runs a nursing home in Tokushima Prefecture.